COMRIE AVOIDS SERIOUS INJURY

On Sunday night, Coyotes forward Mike Comrie left the game against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first period after he was struck above the left eye by the high-stick of Hawks defenseman Jaroslav Spacek.

While the cut was enough to send Comrie to a local hospital where he would receive multiple stitches to close the cut on his eyelid, he was lucky to avoid any serious injury.

"I've been cut around my eye before but never anything like this around my actual eyeball," said Comrie.

Immediately after being hit, Comrie knew that it was more than just a minor issue.

"When the stick struck me I knew that it was around my eye, but I didn't know exactly what happened," said Comrie. "I felt around and knew it was bleeding so I closed my other eye and at that point, it was a little bit frightening but thankfully everything was alright."

On Monday morning Comrie admitted that he still had a little fuzz around the edge of his vision, but nothing that would keep him out of the line up.

"I believe the doctors said it was a scratched retina," said Comrie. "But they gave me some drops and antibiotics so it should get back to 100% fairly soon. I tested it today out in practice and it is nothing that wouldn't allow me to play."

Coyotes Head Coach Wayne Gretzky confirmed that despite the minor injury, Comrie would be in the line up for Tuesday's contest in Minnesota.

"Luckily it wasn't as bad as it looked," said Gretzky. "But he is ok and he'll be in there tomorrow night."

For the time being, Comrie has had a clear visor attached to his helmet. In his past, Comrie had opted to play without the protective visor and even though he has it on currently, Comrie is unsure of how long he will keep it.

"When you look at it, it's crazy for us not to play with them," said Comrie. "We'll see how long it stays but I put it on for the time being.

"It really depends on how I play," joked Comrie. "If I play well with it on, them I'll keep it."